Moderate alcohol intake is a part of a traditional Mediterranean diet, yet many patients with liver disease are advised to avoid alcohol. In this review, researchers review the evidence on the Mediterranean diet, alcohol intake, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (the most common type of liver disease) outcomes. They conclude that the Mediterranean diet is “the most important evidence-based dietary pattern associated with reduced metabolic and hepatic risks” and effectively lowers liver fat in patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Oct 1;61(10):1777. doi: 10.3390/medicina61101777. (Barbería-Latasa M et al.)

A traditional Mediterranean diet is filled with numerous anti-inflammatory foods that are known to nourish both the body and the brain. In a study of 131,209 adults aged 40-69 years, following a Mediterranean diet was linked with a 21 percent lower risk of dementia over the 13.5-year study period.
J Nutr Health Aging. 2025 Jul;29(7):100564. doi: 10.1016/j.jnha.2025.100564. Epub 2025 May 1. (You Ji-Eun et al.)

The Mediterranean diet is well known as brain-healthy, and researchers wanted to quantify its protective effect. In a meta-analysis of 23 studies, following a Mediterranean diet was linked with an 11-30 percent lower risk of age-related cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s, dementia and cognitive impairment).
Geroscience. 2025 Jun;47(3):3111-3130. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01488-3. Epub 2025 Jan 11. (Fekete M et al.)

When the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid was first introduced by Oldways in 1993, few could have predicted how much it would shape our understanding of global dietary patterns. In this review, researchers summarize the numerous health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, including cardiometabolic disease prevention, healthy aging, and healthy gut microbiome composition, as well as its alignment with sustainability. The review also reflects on how the development of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid led to the creation of the African Heritage Diet Pyramid, the Latin American Heritage Diet Pyramid, and the Asian Heritage Diet Pyramid, and thus opened the doors to further study of diverse cultural food traditions.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 May 13:S0002-9165(25)00259-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.036. Online ahead of print. (Hu FB et al.)

This review explores how gut microbiota dysbiosis (having fewer “friendly” bacteria in the gut and/or an overgrowth of potentially “unfriendly” gut bacteria) may lead to cognitive decline. The review also explores how a Mediterranean diet might support a healthy gut microbiome, and by extension, protect cognitive health. The authors also suggest that more research on the gut-brain axis may help us better treat and manage neurodegenerative diseases.
Foods. 2025 Apr 29;14(9):1559. doi: 10.3390/foods14091559. (Mafe AN et al.)

A new brain imaging study confirms the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and cognitive health. Researchers analyzed the diets, took brain images, and measured the cognitive performance of 615 older (70-year-old) adults without dementia. Those following a Mediterranean diet had better cognitive performance, and those following an EAT-Lancet (mostly plant-based) diet had a ticker cortex in their brains (an indicator of good cognitive performance).
Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Apr;21(4):e70191. doi: 10.1002/alz.70191. (Samuelsson J et al.)

It’s never too late to begin your journey to health. In a study of more than 1,000 adults in Europe, those closely or moderately following a Mediterranean diet at ages 40, 50, and 60 had a 26-28% lower risk of carotid plaque (fat in the arteries, which can eventually cause heart disease) at age 60.
Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2025 Mar 18:zwaf155. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf155. (Almevall AD et al.)

Wellbeing isn’t just about the years in your life, it’s also about the life in your years. In a systematic review of 28 studies, following a Mediterranean diet was linked with significantly better health-related quality of life in both general populations and also in people with chronic diseases, especially in the physical domain (such as mobility, pain and fatigue).
Nutrients. 2025 Feb 5;17(3):577. doi: 10.3390/nu17030577. (Godos J et al.)

Diet and lifestyle can play a role in cancer prevention. In a study of 450,111 European adults in both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean populations, those most closely following a Mediterranean diet were 6% less likely to develop obesity related cancers (such as colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and 11 other cancers) 15 years later.
JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2461031. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61031. (Aguilera-Buenosvinos I et al.)

Is the Mediterranean Diet healthy in spite of the wine, or partly because of the wine? New research suggests the latter. In this study, 1,232 Spanish adults at risk of developing heart disease were followed to see how wine consumption relates to heart disease risk using urinary tartaric acid as a biomarker of wine intake. Compared with those who didn’t drink wine (as measured by <1 µg/mL of tartaric acid), those who lightly drank wine (as measured by 3–12 µg/mL of tartaric acid) or who drank up to 1 glass of wine per day (as measured by 12–35 µg/mL of tartaric acid) had a 38% and 50% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, respectively.
Eur Heart J. 2024 Dec 18:ehae804. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae804. Online ahead of print. (Inés Domínguez-López et al.)

Nutrition isn’t just about disease management – it may also help with disease prevention. In a study of 12,575 adults in China, those most closely following a Mediterranean diet were significantly less likely to develop diabetes over the nine-year study period. Specifically, each one-point increase on the nine-point Mediterranean diet score was linked with a 17 percent lower risk of developing diabetes. When looking at individual food groups, fruit, fish, and nuts were also significantly associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes.
Nutr J. 2024 Oct 23;23(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s12937-024-01036-x. (Ying Z et al.)

Because respiratory diseases like COVID-19 can be characterized by inflammation, researchers wonder if a naturally anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet might be related to COVID-19 risk. In a systematic review of 6 studies covering 55,489 people total, researchers found that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet is linked with a lower risk of COVID-19. However, more research is needed on the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and COVID-19 symptoms and severity.
PLoS One. 2024 Aug 21;19(8):e0301564. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301564. eCollection 2024. (Halim C et al.)